Hazlett’s 5 RBIs carry Comets past COD

SAN MARCOS (2/7/2023) – Sophomore catcher Ellison Hazlett slugged a two-run home run in the third inning and later added a two-run double to power the No. 5-ranked Palomar College softball squad to an 8-0 victory Tuesday over College of the Desert. 

The non-conference contest at Bradley Park was shortened to five innings when Hazlett's double to left field scored Allyson Amato and Aaliyah Rivas with the seventh and eighth runs with no outs in the top of the fifth inning to bring on the mercy-run rule. Amato and Rivas both singled to start the inning, and each runner advanced on a passed ball to set up Hazlett's game-ending two-bagger. 

The Comets improved to 4-0 on the season going into another 2 p.m. home game on Wednesday against Saddleback. The loss for COD came in the Roadrunners' season opener. 

Freshman pitcher Guilianna "Gigi" Clavel (Bonita Vista High) hurled five shutout innings for her second win of the season. She allowed six baserunners on three hits, two walks and a hit batsman. Clavel struck out six batters, including the side in the second inning. 

"It was Gigi's second start, and although she didn't have all of her command, she kept mixing her pitches well," Comets coach Lacey Craft said. "And the defense played very well behind her." 

Hazlett, who red-shirted last season, also had a first-inning sacrifice fly to account for five RBIs. The Comets scored four runs in the bottom of the first, which began with a leadoff single by freshman right fielder Faith Steffany (Rancho Buena Vista HS) and was capped by a two-run, two-out single to center by sophomore shortstop Elisa Haas. 

Rivas, a sophomore third baseman, hit a bloop single to right field to lead off the third inning, and Hazlett followed with her two-run homer to left to give Palomar a 6-0 lead. Hazlett then put an early end to the game in her next at-bat two innings later. 

Prior to the game, the Comets moved up one spot in the most recent 3CFCA state poll from their preseason ranking of No. 6.